Barry Bonds, a name synonymous with baseball’s most controversial era, will be inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame, the team announced Tuesday. The ceremony is set to take place at PNC Park on August 24, where Bonds will be honored alongside his former manager Jim Leyland, and the 1970s All-Star catcher Manny Sanguillén.
“The Pittsburgh Pirates announced Tuesday that they’re inducting Bonds into the team’s Hall of Fame. He’ll join a class that includes his former manager Jim Leyland and 1970s All-Star catcher Manny Sanguillén. The team will hold a ceremony at PNC Park on Aug. 24,” the team stated.
Despite his monumental achievements, including seven MVP awards and a record-setting home run tally, Bonds remains a divisive figure due to his central role in baseball’s steroids scandal. His legacy, marred by suspicions of steroid use, has barred him from entering the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown.
“Bonds, of course, can’t tell his kids that he’s a National Baseball Hall of Famer. Despite his status as the most feared slugger of his generation and arguably all time, Bonds is not welcome in Cooperstown. His prominent association with baseball’s steroids era of the 1990s and early 2000s has locked him out,” reflects the controversy surrounding his career.
Despite multiple attempts, Bonds has failed to receive the necessary 75% of votes from the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, culminating in a final tally of 66% in his last year of eligibility in 2022.
“Bonds fell short for a 10th time in his 10th and final season of eligibility via the 2022 Baseball Writers’ Association of America ballot. His 66% vote tally that year fell well short of the 75% threshold for enshrinement,” the narrative explains.
The Pirates, however, choose to celebrate Bonds’ significant contributions to their franchise during his formative years before the allegations took center stage. In his seven seasons with Pittsburgh, Bonds was a dynamic player who showcased his prowess with less physical bulk than seen in later years.
“Bonds’ seasons in Pittsburgh aren’t associated with the steroids era. Playing with a noticeably smaller frame than in San Francisco, Bonds slashed .275/.380/.503 while averaging 25 home runs, 79 RBI, and 36 stolen bases per season,” the statement highlighted his performance during the Pittsburgh years.
This acknowledgment from the Pirates captures a portion of Bonds’ career that was less controversial but no less impressive. Bonds himself appears moved by the recognition, indicating the personal significance of this honor.
“Leyland and I are going to have to try and control our emotions because I think we may do more crying that day than actually speaking,” Bonds said, expressing his sentiments about the upcoming induction.
As Bonds prepares to join the ranks of Pittsburgh’s celebrated players, the debate over his legacy continues to provoke discussions about achievement and integrity in sports.
“We built a bond that no way it’s ever going to be broken.”
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 21, 2024
Barry Bonds talks about his time in Pittsburgh and being a member of the Pirates Hall of Fame. pic.twitter.com/VoeLKrv0lq